How to Purchase Postage Stamps
There have been many significant changes at the United States Postal Service (USPS), including how to purchase postage stamps. In the past you could simply go to an automated machine at the Post Office and purchase one or more stamps, even after hours, but the Post Office has removed many of these machines to cut costs. You now have to find alternative means for getting your stamps.
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Instructions
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Wait for postal business hours to purchase stamps directly from a clerk. This is the only method that will guarantee a purchase of a single stamp and no surcharge on top of regular postage costs.
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Go to retail stores and supermarkets to purchase your postage stamps. In most cases you'll be able to purchase a book of stamps from the customer service booth. There may be a small surcharge added to the price of the stamps.
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Go to your local check cashing store to see if they carry postage stamps. Some small check cashing locations even sell single stamps. You will pay a surcharge on top of the stamp price that is determined by each store, but generally is a few cents extra per stamp.
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Order your stamps at the USPS Postal Store website. Just click "Stamps" on the front page and you will be taken to a page where you can buy coils, sheets, and individual stamps and have them delivered in the mail. In addition to first class stamps, you can also get priority and express mail stamps as well. There is a delivery surcharge.
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Purchase postage using an online postage printing service like Endicia.com, USPS Click-n-Ship, or Stamps.com . These services provide online and software tools that allow you to enter information about the sender and recipient, choose the method for sending the mail (First Class, Media Mail, Priority or other), and then pay online with a credit card (or have the amount billed to your account).
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Use PayPal's "Multi-Order Shipping" to create USPS shipping labels stamped with postage as well. This only works if you have a valid business PayPal account. The postage fee is deducted from your PayPal balance, checking account, or credit card.
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Tips & Warnings
When you use USPS Click-n-Ship your card will automatically be charged, even if you make a mistake processing the postage label, and it takes a while for the amounts to be refunded. If you don't want to deal with this risk, you should get Endicia or another service that allows you to review and cancel the postage before it is submitted to your card.
